Electrode for a welding torch or a cutting torch

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrode ( 16 ) for a welding torch ( 17 ) or a cutting torch, comprising a main body ( 1 ) and a tip ( 3 ) arranged on an end surface ( 2 ) of the main body ( 1 ). The main body ( 1 ) is designed as a hollow body that is open on at least one side. On a side opposite one of the tips ( 3 ), the main body has an opening ( 4 ) for introducing a cooling medium into an interior space ( 7 ) of the main body ( 1 ), and at least two regions ( 5, 6 ) in the interior space ( 7 ), the two inner diameters of which are different from one another, and a transition region ( 8 ) located between the two regions ( 5, 6 ) having an inner diameter that decreases in the direction of the tip ( 3 ).

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An electrode for a welding torch or a cutting torch, having
 a main body and 
 a tip arranged on a terminating surface of the main body, 
 wherein the main body is formed as a hollow body which is open at least on one side, 
 at a side situated opposite the tip, has an opening for the introduction of a cooling medium into an interior space of the main body and 
 at least two regions in the interior space with two mutually different internal diameters, and a transition region which is situated between the two regions and which has an internal diameter which decreases in the direction of the tip, wherein the main body is equipped with a thread on an outer surface surrounding the opening, wherein a diameter of the thread is larger by at least 15% than a diameter of the terminating surface to increase cooling by the cooling medium. 
 
     
     
       2. The electrode as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tip is formed from a material which differs from a material of the main body. 
     
     
       3. The electrode as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the main body has, in its interior space opposite the opening, a preferably planar end surface which is oriented parallel to the terminating surface. 
     
     
       4. The electrode as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the main body has, in its interior space at the end surface, at least a corner radius of at least 0.5 mm. 
     
     
       5. The electrode as claimed in in  claim 3 , wherein a web, which is situated between the terminating surface and the end surface, of the main body has a thickness which corresponds to at most 40 percent of an original height of the tip. 
     
     
       6. The electrode as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tip has an edge-free and/or stepless convex surface at its side averted from the main body. 
     
     
       7. The electrode as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the main body has at least one centering surface on its outer side. 
     
     
       8. The electrode as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the main body has a depression on its outer side, into which depression a sealing ring is inserted. 
     
     
       9. The electrode as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tip is fastened to the terminating surface by means of a soldered connection or a welded connection. 
     
     
       10. A welding torch or cutting torch having an electrode as claimed in  claim 1 , which electrode functions as an anode. 
     
     
       11. The welding torch or cutting torch as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the welding or cutting torch is designed as a tungsten inert gas welding torch or as a tungsten inert gas cutting torch. 
     
     
       12. A method for welding by means of the welding torch or the cutting torch as claimed in  claim 10  with the electrode as an anode and with a workpiece as a cathode, by applying an electrical welding current to the anode and the cathode and forming an arc between the tip of the electrode and a machining region of the workpiece. 
     
     
       13. The method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein in addition to a shielding gas, a focusing gas is conducted onto the machining region of the workpiece through the welding torch or the cutting torch.